How to Get Married in Reno, Nevada

Getting married in Reno may not have all the tacky glitz and glamor that go along with getting hitched in Vegas, but if a quick, easy wedding is what you want, Reno fits the bill. With hassle-free laws (no blood tests, no waiting period) and office hours that go until midnight on weekends, you’ll have your marriage certificate in no time flat. And don’t worry: Reno has a healthy selection of flower-bedecked chapels if you’re looking for some kitsch along with your hitch.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Proof of name and age
• Money for fees in the form of cash, money order or credit card
• An opposite-sex partner

1. Gather your documents. To get married in Reno, you’ll need to bring proof of your name and age, which can be a passport, driver’s license, state ID card, birth certificate and secondary form of ID, military ID card, citizenship certificate, temporary or permanent resident card or naturalization certificate. You do not have to be a resident of Nevada to get married in Reno. If you’re divorced, you don’t have to bring your divorce papers, but you must know the date and state where the divorce was filed.
2. Get yourselves to Reno. Reno has its own airport, the Reno/Tahoe International Airport (airport code: RNO), and is also easily accessible by car from Sacramento, California. It’s about an hour and a half drive.
3. Head to the Washoe County Courthouse with your partner to get your license. It’s located at 75 Court Street and is open every day of the week from 8:00am to midnight. The license costs $55, and you can pay by cash, credit/debit card, money order or traveler’s check. Questions? Call the office at [phone].
4. Have a ceremony--you’re not officially married in Nevada until your marriage license is signed by a licensed officiant. You have up to a year to do this (but most people prefer to do it all at once). If you’re interested in having an actual ceremony at a wedding chapel, grab a few brochures from the courthouse--they’re in a rack just inside the entrance. There’s no shortage of Tuscan-garden-inspired hideaways where, for a fee, your marriage can be performed day or night.
5. Or, keep the ceremony simple by walking two blocks to the office of the Commissioner of Civil Marriages. You’ll state your intentions, and the commissioner will sign and file your license. No witness? Don’t worry: someone in the office will be happy to fill in for free. The office is located at 350 South Center Street, Suite 100, at the corner of Liberty and Center Streets. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday and Thursday (closed from noon to 1:00pm for lunch); and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (closed from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for lunch). Questions? Call [phone].
6. Request a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Washoe County Recorder’s Office in person, by mail or online. By person: Visit the office at 1001 E. 9th Street, Building A, Room 150. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cost is $10.00. By mail: Download the request form online from the Washoe County website and mail to: Washoe County Recorder, PO Box 11130, Reno, NV, 89520-0027. The cost is $10.00. Online: Submit your request online on the eomniform site.

Tips & Warnings

• Lucky in love? Celebrate your marriage at one of Reno's many casinos and see if your luck holds at the penny slot machines.
• Same-sex marriages are not performed in Reno.